>Baker City Herald | Baker County Oregon's News Leader

Firefighters believe an electrical problem ignited a fire that destroyed a Halfway home Sunday evening.

Gail Bergman, Pine Valley Rural Fire District chief, said the fire appears to have  started around the electric meter box at the front of the house near the kitchen area.

The home, built in 1900, is owned by Robert B. “Blake” Steele and Lori J. Steele, according to the Baker County Assessor’s Office. The one-bedroom home, which was remodeled in 1998, had a market value of $33,660, according to county records.

The Steeles live in Boise and visit their Halfway home on the weekends, Bergman said. They left the house, located at the north end of Halfway near the Pine-Eagle School and The Church of  Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, at 10:30 a.m. Sunday.

The home was vacant when the fire was reported at 4:20 p.m.

Firefighters fought the blaze in the dark, removing furniture and other items from the house. The loss was insured, Bergman said.

Five Pine Valley firefighters responded. Mutual aid was provided by four to five volunteers and equipment from both the Richland and Keating fire departments, Bergman said.

Firefighters were able to protect surrounding structures, including a nearby mobile home, he added. Neither the church nor the school was in danger.

No one was hurt in the firefighting effort, Bergman said.